“Yes, but you’re not a chef,” he retorted.
Nova rolled her eyes. “Maybe not, but I like delicious food that I don’t have to prepare myself just like every other person who comes into your restaurant.”
“We’ve discussed my standards before,” he stated.
“You mean that they’re unattainable?”
Torin scoffed but Nova could see the smile hovering around the corners of his mouth.
“The shrimp is yummy,” she repeated. “Don’t do anything but add a slice of lemon for those who agree that it needs more acid and I’m sure the salt and pepper shakers on the tables will supply them with plenty of seasoning if they find it a little lacking.”
“Lacking? Find it lacking?” Torin said.
“Oh, good grief, here we go again,” Nova said, dropping her fork on her plate. “I didn’t sayIfind it lacking, you drama queen.”
“Drama queen?” His voice actually cracked on the words, which made Nova laugh like a maniac.
“Shut up,” he muttered when her giggles wouldn’t stop. “It wasn’t that funny.”
“Oh, yes it was.”
“Stuff your mouth with shrimp instead of laughing. Your boss expects you to get back to work.”
“Sir, yes, sir,” Nova said, giving him a snappy salute with her fork in one hand.
“You’re damn lucky Addie threatened to quit if I fired you.” When she snickered again, he continued, “But I might be willing to go through the hassle of hiring another manager just to get rid of you.”
She outright laughed, something she often did in his presence since the moment they met. But now, Torin knew her laughter was in good fun and not directed at him.
“Wow, I’m running my feet off in the dining room, getting ready to close, and you two are in here giggling over shrimp tacos.”
They both turned to face Addie, who stood in the doorway with her arms crossed over her chest. While she tried to keep her expression angry, Nova could see the humor twinkling in her eyes.
But it was Torin who shocked her with his response.
“Of course, we are. I’m the boss, which means I can take a break whenever I want.”
Addie goggled at him. He might take her teasing and smart-ass comments, but he rarely ever threw them back at her.
“She works us too hard anyway,” Nova interjected, bringing Addie’s wide-eyed stare back to her. “It’s only fair.”
Torin chuckled beneath his breath, which meant Addie once again stared at him.
“What’s wrong with your face, Addie?” Nova asked. “You look like you’ve just seen a talking goat.”
“I-I-I…” Addie closed her mouth and cleared her throat before she tried again. “I’m just going to get back to work now.”
With that, she turned on her heel and scurried back into the dining room.
“What was that all about?” Torin asked, getting up to grab a lime wedge from a container sitting in the cooling rack at the prep station. He returned and squeezed the lime over his shrimp before taking a hefty bite.
“What? Addie giving us crap for slacking off?” Nova asked.
“Hmmm. The lime works better than lemon,” he mumbled, his mouth still full. After he finished chewing and swallowing, he said, “No, the weird look she was giving us.”
“Not us,” Nova said. “You.”
“Okay, why me?”
